ok, so i am sure to get a biased response around here but...
i have about a 2k budget. I listenedd to klipsch synergy f-3 speakers at best buy and I liked them.

link here: http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/f-3-home-theater-system.aspx

some people over at avs forum suggested axiom speakers instead, and I have read nothing but great reviews. I wish I could hear them, I like the 30 day trial but hate to pay $200 to ship them back if I do not like them.

anyway- I was just wanting to get some input from people about these speakers... maybe someone who has heard the klipsch speakers as well.

Also, I could save some cash and get the axiom epic 50/350...

The receiver I am buying is the new Yamaha RX-V661


link here: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=547398

it is rated at 90 watts per channel, and It may be 6 months+ before I can purchase an external amp... so would I be better off getting the axiom epic 50's over the 60's? is 90 watts per channel going to push the 60's until i can get an amp?

any comment sof the klipsch vs axiom, or the epic 60's vs the 50's are welcomed.

Where do you live?

There are many former Klipsch owners on this forum, including Klipschguy, who really needs to change his screen name.

I can tell you that from owning many brands of "retail chain" speakers in the past like infinity, polk, etc. That your not going to find anything at a Best Buy that will compare to Axiom speakers.

One of my best friends is a regional manager for Best Buy, and even he will admit Axiom is a true Audiophile grade speaker.

Which speakers you decide on depends on many things. What are your listening habits, music vs home theater? How big is your room?

Also, keep in mind you can order form Axiom's factory outlet and save 10%, plus another 5% if you order 5 of any items from Axiom.

Why do you think you need an external amp? That AVR would most likely give you everything you would ever require. An efficient speaker like Axiom having say 95dB efficiency only requires 1 watt to achieve that 95dB at 3ft distance from the speaker, that is pretty darn loud.

I live in North east Oklahoma.

I am not sure of the size of my room b/c I am moving. I am currently in an apartment and will be moving into a rent house. I am going to try and find a place with a decent sized living room, but I haven't had the chance to look yet. This is my first home theater system, so I wasn't sure if an external amp would be needed for these speakers.


I see where they deducted 5% for purchasing the 5 items together, but does that price include the 10% discount?

as for use: I will be using it for gaming (xbox 360), movies and music. probably substantial amounts of all three, but a focus on high def gaming w/ surround.
I will be watching dvds on my 360 or downloading the high def movies with 5.1 via the xbox live market place until I take the plunge and nab and hd-dvd or blu-ray player to hook up via hdmi.

Anyway- I want some speakers that I can play loud with all types of music, while maintaining clarity.
I am not sure what to look for from a 5.1 theater system as this is my first purchase... but ideally I want something that has clarity and shaprness during quite dialogue scenes, but has some serious bass and kick during actions scenes and explosions. a smooth transition of sound from front to back is important (like if an airplane is flying overhead)

anyway... I Think I will be going axiom... but since it is a bit over my budget I am going to have to save up a little cash (The 0% interest for 18 months on other speakers from various retailers would be a plus)

but, I have a good amount of the money, and won't be getting a house until the end of june, so i have time to save. If i am going to spend 2k on a sound system, I don't want to be the least bit dissapointed.

* that center channel and upgraded subt aht come with the 60/500 system is very attractive!

Being a first home theater purchase anyone think i would be at any way dissapointed with the vp100 or ep350 as opposed to the vp 150 or ep500?

the $700 price difference seems steep... and I think the package set listed with the epic 60/350 set would be fine, but man the vp150 center channel looks sexy

I would not buy Klipsch over Axiom. I auditioned both side-by-side in my house. I can tell you that I was moved to tears with my Epic-80 system when I finally got it positioned right. I still cannot believe that I can get the wide, deep and tall sound-stage that I'm getting from two speakers when I'm listening to music. When people come over, they refuse to believe that I only have two speakers turned on. I hear instruments two to three feet away from my speakers, behind me, in between the speakers...you name it. The imaging and clarity are incredible on very good recordings.

The 500 sub should be great for you no problem at all. I have the EP600 in a 4000 cubic foot room in the basement and have it set very, very low. Even at this low setting, it rattles the entire house upstairs during movies (in a good way ). I have 7" of safe n' sound mineral insulation in my ceiling, 9" fir floor joists, and all drywall is glued and screwed. My house is really tight and the EP600 is just a monster! It's scary because you can feel what's going on...not just hear. Sometimes you can feel it and not hear it which is really unnerving actually. So I know that the 500 will be good enough for you in what sounds to me like a smaller space.

I hope you get your Axiom system and join musical Nirvana like some of us.

You might want to check page 1 of the Audition thread in the "hearing things" section, I haven't looked at it in awhile, but there may be someone close. Otherwise, send a PM to Amie or Andrea at Axiom. They sometimes have a list of other people willing to let you listen to Axiom. That is what sold me. Heck drive up to Iowa, I"m 3hrs from KC.

If you order from the factory outlet, you get 10% off the regular prices, plus if you get 5 items (including accessories) you get another 5%. The 5% you get on the regular stock also off of reg prices. Most of us order from the outlet, you won't be disapointed.

fyi I was looking at the ep350 sub not the 500 sub. I said the 500 sub and the 150 center looked sexy, but bring things over my budget.

I am fond of deep loud bass... anyone have the 350 sub and can comment on it's performance?

so the prices listed in the shopping cart include the 5% discount but not the 10% discount? How would I find out if I qualified for the 10% discount.. (do I have to be in a certain part of th US?)

I owned a 350 prior to my 500 and prior to my current 600. A lot depends on the room size, dimensions, placement of the sub, etc.. The 350 is a very good sub and used to be the king of the hill, before the 500 and 600 came out. They really are in another league as they are a different digital designed sub.

I was very happy with my 350 in my upstairs smaller room, but when I moved down to the basement, it just could not move as much air as the 500 or 600 as my ht/recroom is 30ft x 31ft x 9ft ceilings.

T, welcome. Unless your listening room is very large and you listen at very loud levels to material with a very wide dynamic range you may well find that the 661 is all you need to power M60s. You shouldn't assume a need for more power unless actual results(e.g. audible distortion, shutting down)establish such a need.

Hi there, after owning the "flagship" Klipsch Rf83 for 5 months, I sold them and now have the M80's. The step up in sound is night and day, klipsch have notorious "harsh" highs and seriously lack any mids at all, imaging is not even close to the Axioms.

My recommend is to buy the best speakers that you can afford, they are the foundation of your system and will make or break it. Any decent receiver will do the job untill the upgrade bug bites and then you still have a good speaker system.

Enjoy and have fun

Chris

I'm on board with you there, guys. This all means that my Emotiva credit is doo-doo, unless I buy a heated warehouse for the sole purpose of moving my HT in there. It seems that pre pros and exteranal amp packages are all the rage. My guess is that these individuals are driving inefficient speakers. Am I wrong?

You could always pick up a BPA 1 and then sell it on Audiogon. You would loose nothing and gain a little cash.

There are a few other threads debating Klipsch vs. Axiom sound quality. Everyone 'hears' differently. Personally and un-appologetically (spelling czars, calm down), I don't think Klipsch makes any speakers that sound very good. I've never heard one, even going all the way up to their flagship lines, that sound like they are worth the cost. Harsh and screechy highs, blubbery/ponderous bass that's as delicate as a grand piano falling off a balcony. Loud, but not pretty. That's my OPINION, and not a fact, please take it as such.

Axiom speakers are accurate and detailed, if nothing else. Shoot a PM to Amie, or check out the auditions thread to see if there's anyone near you offering demos. If you can't hear Axiom's, in my opinion the closest-to-axiom-sound speakers I've heard that are 'commonly' found would be the Vienna Acoustic Mozarts found in Best Buy Magnolia centers. They remind me quite a bit of my m22's, or almost like m80's but with a touch less low-end. They are lovely sounding (and looking!) speakers. While you're there, note that little tag that says $1,750 is for *each*.

Regarding subs...

While I have not heard the EP500/600 nor the EP350, it's been discussed a lot around here. The EP500/600 are commonly accepted to be amazing subs. They are truly excellent for their price, but they aren't cheap. While there's nothing wrong with the EP350, if your budget is for $500-$800 subs, you can get more bang-for-your-buck by going with SVS or HSU. SVS and HSU make some killer subs in that range that are usually regarded to be just a touch 'more awesome' than the EP350.

regarding 'factory direct' purchases.

Does anyone have any pics of what a "slight blemish" is? The customer service rep said there is NO way I would notice these blemishes on my speakers from my couch. I would have to inspect them closely to even notice them. The waiting period is not a huge deal... and saving 10% on a 3k system is great!

Quote:

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regarding 'factory direct' purchases.

Does anyone have any pics of what a "slight blemish" is? The customer service rep said there is NO way I would notice these blemishes on my speakers from my couch. I would have to inspect them closely to even notice them. The waiting period is not a huge deal... and saving 10% on a 3k system is great!

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I was windering the same thing....I would like to see what they call a blemish. It dont have to be perfect and saving 10% would be nice....but not if everytime I look at the speaker my eyes are drawn to a F-up